Lieber willing to assume any role
ST. LOUIS -- Jon Lieber has been a team guy in the early part of the season as he began the year in the bullpen.
He's adopting the same approach now that he has taken Rich Hill's spot in the rotation. Hill was demoted to Class AAA Iowa on Saturday.
"I feel good, physically and mentally," said Lieber, who starts Wednesday at Cincinnati. "I necessarily don't like the circumstances it revolved itself around. I want to see Rich get back here as soon as possible."
Lieber, a career starting pitcher, has worked in long relief this season. He pitched 3¿ innings Friday night as Hill failed to get out of the first inning. Lieber says he's "stretched out" enough to start.
"I think (pitching coach) Larry (Rothschild) mentioned to me that I'll get probably between 70 and 80 pitches," he said about Wednesday's start.
As far as being a team guy, Lieber says he's looking at the big picture.
"You know, this late in my career, what it boils down to here is winning," he said. "Maybe if you would have asked me five or six years ago, or even last year, I don't know if I would have said that, and I think I've learned from that. Sometimes you've got to take your pride and push it to the side.
"This year I was going to treat differently, knowing there was a chance if I didn't start I'd be going to the bullpen, or I might not even make the team. You just move on."
Ramirez still out: Third baseman Aramis Ramirez missed his second straight start because of a sore left wrist. He was hit by an Adam Wainwright pitch Friday.
The Cubs hope he can start tonight in Cincinnati.
"Ramirez is still sore," manager Lou Piniella said. "He's still got some swelling and discomfort. He didn't feel like he could go today. We'll give him another day and see how he does tomorrow."
Eyre it out: The Cubs may want to give lefty reliever Scott Eyre (elbow bone chip) 2 more minor-league rehab appearances before bringing him back.
It's possible Eyre could rejoin the Cubs in Cincinnati.
Scouting report
Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park
TV: Channel 26 today; Comcast SportsNet Tuesday and Wednesday
Radio: WGN 720-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Ryan Dempster (4-0) vs. Johnny Cueto (1-3) today at 6:10 p.m.; Carlos Zambrano (4-1) vs. Aaron Harang (1-4) Tuesday at 6:10 p.m.; Jon Lieber (2-1) vs. Edinson Volquez (4-1) Wednesday at 11:35 a.m.
At a glance: The Cubs took two of three from Dusty Baker's Reds in mid-April at Wrigley Field. Lieber makes his first start of the year after opening the season in the bullpen. Don't be fooled by Harang's record. The ace of the Reds' staff has a 2.98 ERA. The Reds are in the bottom half of most key offensive categories in the NL. Ex-Cub Corey Patterson is struggling to remain above .200.
Next: Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field, Friday-Sunday